Ballon D'or 2016 rejects XI

The usual suspects, Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, are the favourites for the Ballon D'or this season.

de Gea has been one of Manchester United’s best players in the last few seasons

Ballon D’or fever is here as France Football announced its list of 30-men who will compete for the most prestigious individual award in the football world. The list saw usual suspects Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi along with other favorites like Neymar, Bale, Suarez, Griezmann, while there were some new names such as Jamie Vardy, Riyad Mahrez in the mix too.

Ronaldo and Messi will go head-to-head again to claim the title of Best Player in the World, while some believe that Griezmann will give the two superstars a run for their money this year, following his exploits with Atletico Madrid and France.

The shortlist includes several outstanding players, but there are plenty of world class names left out in the list.

Here’s a list of 11 players who did not make the shortlist but would make a fine team.

#1 David de Gea

The Manchester United and Spain shot stopper’s exclusion did not go well with everyone. de Gea’s performance for Manchester United last season earned him a Player of the Club award for third time in a row and the Spanish International narrowly missed out on the Premier League Golden Glove.

David de Gea put on a very good performance for Spain at the Euros as he dethroned legendary keeper Casillas as Spain’s Number One.

Portuguese Keeper Rui Patricio’s nod over de Gea may have angered some Red Devils fans, and surely the former Atletico Madrid keeper deserved a place in the 30-man shortlist.